John Kennedy, Co Tipperary

Nenagh-based contractor John believes this has been the worst year for silage since 2012.

“It has been absolute torture, but look it could be worse, as long as no one is injured everything else is a side show, it’s a minor thing. We’re not too bad with the ground conditions, wet ground is wet but it is workable, the gear is better, the tyres are better and maybe the drivers are better too,” he says.

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“But this year has been exceptionally wet and difficult. The weather is the difference in making a few quid out of it or not, and unfortunately this year is just one of those years,” says John.

Diesel prices have affected his business, but John emphasises “you have to cut your own costs”.

“In a silage outfit there are huge ways of saving, one outfit could be a lot more economic than another. The long draws are the killer, but farmers just have to pay for them and that’s it,” he says.

With regard to prices, John says they have risen €30/acre compared to last year.

“It’s the long draws that kill it, if you’re doing near draws the diesel is manageable and then when the weather is wet, we have weight scales on the trailer there and it goes from 20t on a wet day to 10t on a dry day. It’s really a numbers game,” says John.

When it comes to collecting money from farmers, John’s clients have been good.

“Everyone does their best. Nowadays the cost is higher, you’re paying more VAT and everything is scaled up, so you have more money to collect and people have more money to give out. The numbers are bigger and that creates a problem for everyone I think,” says John. The mood in general among agricultural contractors, according to John, is pretty low.

“I wouldn’t think anyone is in good form. But these things come and go. It is a big undertaking to take on what contractors take on and people underestimate that and the public don’t always make it easier.

John Kennedy, Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Technology and labour

“The weather has been bad before, but the equipment was bad. Now the weather is bad but you have a way of getting through it, you could cut 150 acres in one day if you wanted. The equipment is everything, only it’s too expensive,” says John.

With three drawing full-time, labour hasn’t been too big of an issue for John; he has two nephews and his own son who have a keen interest in machinery on board. But, in general, he realises it is an issue: “I do think it is a problem. Before people wanted to drive and would nearly do it for nothing, now if there was a young person passing the road and they weren’t into machinery they wouldn’t even look in over the ditch; before it was a novelty.”

'In a silage outfit there are huge ways of saving, one outfit could be a lot more economic than another,' states John Kennedy. \ Odhran Ducie

William Hanrahan, Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary

William has been working as a agricultural contractor alongside farming for over 60 years trading under W Hanrahan Agri Contracting Ltd.

“It’s all down to the weather. You get a wet week and then when it clears up, they all want it cut in the one day,” says William.

With first-cut currently being carried out across the country he admits they were under serious pressure due to the high demand.

“Last week was OK but the pressure was enormous, it was impossible to keep up with the work. We have three round balers two Kuhns, a McHale and a new square Kuhn baler,” says William.

William recently purchased a new Kuhn SB 1290 iD from Cork Farm Machinery as more farmers were demanding square bales for both silage and straw.

William Hanrahan owner of W Hanrahan Agri Contracting Ltd pictured in Clogheen Co Tipperary.

“They are easier to handle and store and you have less of them. It has an awful lot of advantages. It is a brand-new machine and I would be the only one in this area with one; you would have to go to Cahir to find the next one. It is the first of many I am sure, because when I got the round baler first, no one would use it,” says William.

To keep the price of baling down, William gets the farmer to supply their own wrap.

“We let the farmers supply the wrap, it keeps the price of the baling down and it’s easier to collect the money. This year has been hard enough at times to collect money. Last year was nice and easy because the price of milk was good. But farmers in general are good to pay up. If they have it, they will give it to you,” he concludes.